MONTEGO BAY, St James – Driven by a strong desire to pursue her philanthropic journey, Janet Richards opted for early retirement from Scotiabank to devote herself to full-time charity work in 2019.

She had spearheaded a number of charitable projects across the island while at the bank, but she yearned to branch out on her own and do even more.

“I went into early retirement and immediately after I left I formed my foundation because I wanted to do this all my life. I formally registered my foundation which has so far been successful,” Richards told the Jamaica Observer.

Since then her foundation has been making giant strides in improving the lives of many, especially children who are physically challenged or living in State-run homes.

The Janet Richards Foundation, with the assistance of sponsors and volunteers, has often provided treats for the more than 30 mentally and physically disabled children at Blessed Assurance Mustard Seed Home in Windsor Lodge, St James. Richards has also continued to provide Christmas treats for children at the Cornwall Regional and Noel Holmes hospitals in Montego Bay and Lucea, respectively.

She estimates that since launching her foundation with a $1.5-million donation from Courts Jamaica, she has executed more than 20 projects.

“I bought tablets, laptops [which] I gave to Cornwall Regional Hospital and Noel Holmes; I also gave to many schools, to many homes. I set up an area in both of the hospitals where if the children are in the hospital and want to do schoolwork they can do it. I also gave them printers from that money. So both hospitals got a printer so they can print material for SBAs and so on,” she said, adding that the foundation also provides Christmas dinner for residents at the infirmaries in St James and Hanover.

Another major project that the Janet Richards Foundation has embarked on is free mammogram screening for more than 100 women annually. The initiative is in honour of a late neighbour who died from breast cancer.

“Her husband still continues the project in her memory. We not only do the mammogram testing but we give money to those who cannot afford transportation to come and do the test,” said Richards, who is a justice of the peace, director of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry and who serves on a number of boards.

“We also ensure support for those who have to do follow-ups like X-ray. We also pay for them and if they need consultation we also pay for that.”

Richards, the last of seven children and native of Kendel, Hanover, who has now made St James her home, contends that her passion for giving back is indelibly etched in her DNA, inherited from her parents’ penchant to give.

“I can easily identify something and it might seem big to everybody but seems small to me. I learnt that from my parents. I am the last of seven children and I saw my mother and father sharing [with others] everything that they had,” she reflected.

“I have been doing voluntary work most of my life. While attending Rusea’s High School I was involved in almost everything there. I was monitor, deputy head girl, head girl and also served on the school board for over 10 years. I had to beg them to take me off. Even though I am off the board I have not left Rusea’s because I still contribute to both Rusea’s and Kendal Primary. After leaving Rusea’s I started at Scotia, which was my sole job,” she told Observer West.

Her philanthropic exploits have not gone unnoticed and she has received numerous awards over the years.

“During that period at Scotiabank I won many local and international awards. I was the 2012 International Philanthropic individual awardee. Of all the countries Scotiabank operated in I copped the award. In Jamaica for many, many years I was the top volunteer and for the western branch — which was metro north at the time — I always topped it because I always organised a lot of things for the branch,” she noted.

Richards was quick to acknowledge the major sponsors who have supported her foundation over the years. In addition to Court Jamaica, these include the Usain Bolt Foundation, United Way of Jamaica, Harbour City, Afresh Marketplace, Queens Supermarket, Gateway Credit Union, Gwendolyn & Mark Kameka, MBJ Airports Ltd, Round Hill Hotel, Omar Robinson, Zimmer, Jamaica Public Service, Tourism Enhancement Fund, JMMB, NHF, Hospiten Hospital, as well as friends, classmates and family in Jamaica and abroad.

“People believe in me because they see the work that I do so it is not difficult for me to get funding from persons. They know that when their money comes to me the work is being done,” Richards said.